Elon Musk threatens to target far-left activist who called him a military objective

Elon Musk announced he intends to “come after” Eric Hovagim, a former volunteer videographer for New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani, after the activist called the billionaire a “valid military target.” Hovagim, an Arizona-born independent creator, helped film and edit three videos for Mamdani’s 2025 Democratic primary campaign, asserting he was unpaid and only dealt with the campaign’s video team. A profile by The Free Press and a later interview highlighted his radical statements, such as accusing Musk of being a legitimate target and alleging that the U.S. and Israel are run by “Zionist pedophiles.”

Investor Joe Lonsdale amplified the story on X, prompting Musk’s reaction. Hovagim now lives in China, produces content that appears to favor the Chinese government, and has collaborated with left-wing streamer Hasan Piker on a controversial Cuba documentary. The Mamdani campaign has not publicly disputed Hovagim’s account, and no comment has been obtained from Musk’s side.